In advanced civilizations the period loosely called Alexandrian is usually associated with flexible morals, perfunctory religion, populist standards and cosmopolitan tastes, feminism, exotic cults, and the rapid turnover of high and low fads—in short, a falling away (which is all that decadence means) from the strictness of traditional rules, embodied in character and inforced from within. — Jacques Barzun

Archive for February, 2010

John Hinderaker rips apart Frank Rich’s New York Times column on—well, it’s hard to say, exactly; Joseph Stack, the Tea Party movement, Sarah Palin, the Republican Party, and assorted other things that have nothing to do with one another. Normally, I wouldn’t bother with Rich’s sort of inanity. It’s filled with vague phrases like “It was a flare with the dark afterlife of an omen.” (Kind of like “emanation of a penumbra,” perhaps?) Republicans are somehow to be associated with Stack’s flying a plane into a building because they “gave it a pass.” It’s the sort of column that is so stupid, so mindless, so foolish, and so disconnected that you lose IQ points in the act of reading it.

I point you toward it, and Hinderaker’s masterful dissection of it, because I’ve begun to realize that many people on the Left think that the style of “reasoning” in Rich’s column is actually a sign of great intelligence. They string associations together, assuming, fallaciously, that if A is associated with B, and B with C, A must be associated with C. But A, B, and C don’t have to be associated in the world—those who style themselves as most intelligent would snicker at the suggestion that there is such a thing—but only in their own minds. The less connection there seems to be, in fact, the more intelligent one is for linking them together. In this kind of discourse, in other words, one scores points by making connections that are, on their face, absurd. A guy goes nuts and flies a plane into a building, leaving behind a note filled with Marxist ravings? Must be Sarah Palin’s fault. Tea Party protestors worry that the government is spending too much money? They’re anarchists in favor of political violence. To describe this sort of discourse as cartoonish is unfair to cartoons. But the Left considers it clever, and thinks that moderates and conservatives are stupid for not being able to see the connections they “see,” or, more accurately, imagine.

Shame on the New York Times for printing Rich’s rubbish. And shame on the people who consider it insightful and intelligent.

UPDATE: Ron Radosh (“An Embarrassment to the New York Times“) and Ed Driscoll (“If our Colleges and Universities Do Not Breed Men Who Riot”) join in this morning. Radosh helpfully reminds us that advocacy of political violence has actually been a recurring feature of the Left. But I disagree about one thing. I’m not sure it’s possible to embarrass the New York Times any longer.

The competition committee will discuss the new concept with teams and players at league meetings March 21-24 in Orlando, Fla., when it could come to a vote. At least two thirds of the teams would need to agree to the changes for new rules to be adopted (emphasis added).

Two thirds agree? Isn’t two thirds of the teams restraining to this important bit of legistlation? Wouldn’t Americans be satisfied with a 51% majority? Don’t we need to make it easier for change to occur, regardless of the league founders’ intent? Yet these are the arguments given to convince us that the Senate reconciliation process will be used to jam healthcare legislation through Congress.

Rules and values are important to have, until they affect the Left, and then the rules and values need to be altered to meet the Left’s agenda. The NFL will follow its procedures to bring changes to its game, Congress should too.

Philo has given me a key to the executive washroom to post a few notes. I listen to the radio during the day and hear items I think are interesting. A few sentences here and there, a quote, a link, and I will be done. I don’t home in on just talk radio either, but podcasts, livestreams, music, sports, news and stuff.

For example, I began listening to the Dennis Miller Show about a year ago, and now I go to it daily if I have time and remember. Very clever, informed, and humorous, Dennis provides good radio. And if your streaming, all sorts of music instead of commercials. Today was Miller’s sidekick Sal’s last day. Sal has a rather caustic, dark wit that is usually accompanied by the opening measure of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in d minor afterward. Adios Sal. PS Dennis had on Jerome Corsi today of World Net Daily – his introduction and theme song on the show is the old Lost In Space music. PS there is a free Dennis Miller Radio app on itunes – plays random segments continuously.

Of the few I have heard, these little programs are quite listenable, enjoyable, informative, and at about 14 minutes not a huge investment of time.

One episode’s subject is a 2500+ year old bronze Chinese bell, which leads to discussion of Confucius, and his philosophies on music, harmony, and civilized societies. Another is about a mask from the Olmec’s of central Mexico, and elements of their existence.

These podcasts are free downloads off iTunes. So far it appears only 30 have been published, easy to catch up on, and there are 70 to go – something to look forward to. Get some and expand the little gray cells into a big brain.

What can I say? After 6 minutes of actuarial foreplay, with a climax of “If you think that [the American people] want a government takeover of health care, I respectfully submit, you aren’t listening to them,” my conservative bodice is officially ripped. What isn’t shown in the video is the sputtering, rambling, shambling, unfocused, and incoherent response from President Red Pill-Blue Pill. I sat through it: it was long enough for me to finish my cigarette.